~Ella Windsor POV~
The creature lunged for me, its claws aimed for my throat, time slowed and I could hear my heart beating faster, feel the hum of the sword, and sense the presence of all three alphas behind me. This was my fight.
I ducked, twisting, and drove the blade into its chest.
The silver hissed and burned. Its body convulsed, light bursting from the wound and the smell of burning metal and blood filled the air. Then, with one last scream, the creature shattered, its body dissolving into glowing shards that melted into the floor.
Silence....the storm outside roared on, but inside, no one moved. I collapsed to my knees, the sword still warm in my hands.
Edward shifted back, blood dripping from his side. "This was not a lone attack," he said, his voice rough. "There will be more."
Leonard crouched beside me, his gold eyes searching mine. "You fought like a wolf, Ella. Your blood is awake now, there's no going back."
Markus picked himself up, dusting off his coat. "You just made yourself target number one for the shadow pack. Congratulations!"
I looked at the glowing shards on the floor. "What are they?"
"Not wolves," Edward said. "Something twisted like... silver slaves."
Ma'am Emilie took a shaky breath. "Ella, this changes everything, you can't stay here. The Accord will not wait, and neither will they."
My wolf growled inside me. I could feel her stronger now, her voice clearer. Run or fight, choose soon.
I stood, my legs shaking, and faced all three alphas. "If I go with any of you, I'm dragged into your war, but if I stay, I'm hunted. So tell me...why should I trust any of you?"
Leonard's lips curved into a thin smile. "Because I'm the only one who can keep you alive in this city."
Edward's gaze held mine, "Because freedom under the moon is worth fighting for."
Markus tilted his head, his grin returning. "Listen little wolf, I'm the only one who'll let you be exactly who you are."
Before I could answer, a low hum filled the air, vibrating the walls. Sara pointed toward the window. "What's that sound?"
We all turned, across the street, a black van idled, its windows tinted. The driver's door opened, and someone stepped out holding a strange metal box that glowed faintly blue.
Leonard's face hardened. "That's not wolf tech, that's human."
Edward stiffened. "Hunters."
The box clicked, releasing a thin mist that rolled toward the shop.
Markus muttered, "And here comes round two."
The mist crept under the shop door, rolling like a living thing. It smelled strange...metallic, sharp, almost electric. My wolf flinched, every hair on my body standing on edge.
Leonard grabbed my shoulder. "Get upstairs! Now!"
"I'm not hiding," I said, clutching the sword tighter.
"It's not a suggestion," he growled, but his eyes were scanning the street. "This isn't a normal attack, hunters know how to neutralize wolves."
Edward moved to the shattered window, peering through the mist. "It's gas, a blend of silver and wolfsbane." His voice was grim. "If we breathe too much of it, we'll be as weak as humans."
Markus leaned casually against the wall, though his hand hovered near a knife tucked into his belt. "Then maybe we don't breathe it. We run, or we fight fast."
The driver of the black van stepped forward, dressed in black tactical gear. He carried a strange crossbow-like weapon, but it hummed faintly as if powered by something more dangerous than string and wood.
Ma'am Emilie cursed under her breath. "I hate this! Ella, take the back stairwell."
Sara looked pale but stepped between me and the window. "She's not leaving without someone."
I turned to Leonard, Edward, and Markus. "Are you going to stand here arguing or are we going to move?"
Leonard's golden eyes met mine, a reflection of something like pride passing through them. "You want to fight? Then follow my lead."
He kicked over a shelf, barricading part of the window, while Edward grabbed a heavy metal bar from the corner of the room. Markus cracked his knuckles. "Time to make some noise."
The first bolt shot through the broken window with a hiss, striking the wall near me. It didn't burn, but the smell made my stomach turn, and the mist grew thicker.
Leonard lunged forward, smashing through what remained of the window frame. He landed outside with a low snarl, his movements so fast they blurred.
Edward followed, his wolf form leaping into the mist, a white shadow vanishing into the blue haze.
Markus looked at me. "Stay close or you'll get hit, I don't carry anyone."
I nodded, stepping through the window after him, the cold mist wrapped around me instantly, stinging my lungs. My wolf pushed against me, her voice sharp in my head. Move fast! Don't let them corner you.
Outside, the street looked like a scene from a dream. The black van's lights cut through the mist, illuminating three more hunters, each armed with glowing crossbows and short spears.
Leonard moved first, slamming one hunter to the ground and wrenching the weapon from his hands. Edward's wolf form tore through another, knocking him aside without hesitation, but the third hunter raised the strange metal box again, releasing another pulse of blue mist.
My wolf growled, as I raised the moonsteel sword.
The hunter spotted me and aimed his crossbow, I barely ducked as the bolt whistled past my head, grazing my shoulder. Pain burned, but I kept moving.
Markus appeared out of the mist, his knife flashing. He took the hunter down with one quick move, kicking the crossbow away. "Don't just stand there, little wolf," he said. "We need to clear the street before more of them come."
I nodded, but something caught my eye. The driver of the van wasn't fighting, he was watching me.
Our eyes locked through the mist. His face was covered by a dark visor, but I could feel his focus on me, sharp and cold. He raised a small device and pressed a button.
The van's side door slid open, inside, I saw cages, chains, and something else...a glowing silver collar.
Leonard followed my gaze and growled. "They came for you."
Before I could respond, a flash-bang rolled across the street.
"Down!" Edward roared.
The blast went off, a deafening crack of light and sound, I stumbled, ears ringing, vision spinning.
Through the haze, I felt someone grab me, not Leonard, not Edward, nor Markus.
The driver pulled me toward the van, strong and unrelenting and my sword slipped from my hand, clattering against the asphalt.
I struggled, kicking and shouting, but my head was still ringing. I saw Leonard charging, Edward close behind, and Markus flanking..... the van's engine roared to life.
"Ella!" Sara's voice screamed faintly from the shop.
The last thing I saw was Leonard's golden eyes before the van's door slammed shut between us.
The engine growled, tires screeching on wet pavement, and just like that, I was gone.